middlemas



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. MIDDLEMAS.

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING LEATHER.

'No. 333,773. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

(No Model.) .2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. MIDDLEMAS.

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING LEATHER.

No. 333,773. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

FIG.8.

N. FETER& Phalu-Lithngrapher. Washington. 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

GEORGE MIDDLEMAS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, GALIFORN IA.

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING LEATHER.

EPECEPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,773, dated January 5, 1886.-

Application filed October 21, 1885. Serial No.180.544. (No model.)

To all whom, ib'ntzry concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE llIIDDLEMAS, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have in vented an Improvement in Devices for Rolling Leather; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device or apparatus for rolling leather or packing it closely for storage or transportation.

It consists of a roller around which the leather is to be turned, guides in which pins or t-runnions at the ends of the roller traverse, and an adjustable weighted or spring mechanism in connection with these guides, which allows the roller and its spindles to adjust themselves to the increasing diameter of the roll.

It also consists of belts or bands and a means for operating them, whereby the roll is advanced, and in certain details of construction, all of which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. shows the manner of dividing the roller.

A is the floor or table, of sufficient length and width to accommodate the sheets of leather or other material which it is desired to roll or form in close bales or packages. Upon each side of this floor are guide-rails B, and vertical posts 0 stand at the ends of these guides. Above the guides are bars or timbers D, the ends of which are fitted to move up and down on the vertical guides 0. These bars may be weighted, or they may have springs Eattached vto or connected with the guides and pressing upon their ends. These springs may be made of rubber or steel, and may be flat, spiral, or elliptical, as will best serve the purpose. Across the upper ends of the vertical posts may be transverse belts, through which screws F pass, by which the tension of the springs may be adjusted.

G is a roller of such length as to fill the space between the guides B on the sides of the table, and this roller may have pins or trunnions extending outwardly from its ends, so as to enter the space between the guides B and the vertically-moving bars D, before de- Fig. 4

scribed. These bars are preferably tapered or curved upward from their lower surface, so that as the roller lies upon the floor or table the pins or trunnions at its ends will easily enter thespace between the bars and the guides. If it be found necessary, the outer ends of these trunnions may be fitted with toothed pinions, which engage the teeth of straight racks secured exterior to the guides, and which act to hold the roller in a perfect line, not allowing one end to be advanced faster than the other by irregularities in the roller-straps or by varying thickness in the sheets of leather to be rolled.

H H are straps or belts, which may be made of leather, rubber, or any suitable material of sufficient flexibility. At one end these straps may be permanently secured, and they extend along the floor just inside the guides to a point beyond that at which the roller is intro duced to the guides. The ends of these belts are then brought forward over the roller and connected, either directly or by suitable intermediate gears or belts, with the drum I, upon which they are rolled, and the distant ends thus brought toward the drum. The operation will then be as follows: The sheets of leather or other material which are to be rolled are laid upon the floor or table, between the guides E, and the roller is placed upon thefirst one at the beginning of the table, where its trunnions will enter the space between the bars and guides before described. WVhen the belts H are drawn forward by the action of the drum I, they will coil the nearest edge of the leather around the roller, and will then continue to roll the leather or material upon the roller until the end of the guide has been reached. The action of the bars D, with their weights or springs, will be to press downward upon the roller through the trunnions, and thus cause the leather to roll in a very tight, compact bundle, the pressure increasing as the size of the bundle increases.

J J are grooves or channels formed in the floor, in which cords are laid before the material to be rolled is placed on the floor, and after the roll is complete these cords are used to tie it before it is taken out of the apparatus. When the roller has reached the ends of the guides, it is allowed to run out, and-the leather may be transferred to a scale at that point for the purpose of weighing, the roller being first withdrawn. In some cases, where the roll is very close and tight, it maybe found difficult to remove the roller, and I have therefore constructed it in two parts, which are beveled and dovetailed together, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the roller can be easily withdrawn.

It will be manifest that a single belt may be used to operate the roller; but I have found it better to use two belts, so that a person may walk between them to see that the work is properly done.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A devicefor rolling leather, consisting of a floor or table upon which the material is placed, a roller traversing this table between guides, and spring or weight actuated bars pressing upon the trunnions or ends of the roller, substantially as herein described.

2. An apparatus for rolling leather or other material. consisting of a floor or table upon which the sheets are placed, a roller traversing this table between guides, and bands or belts by which it is caused to advance, in combination with bars pressing upon the ends or trunnions of the roller, and springs by which the pressure of these bars may be regulated, substantially as herein described.

3. A. floor or table having guides upon either side, and channels for the reception of tyingcords, in combination with a roller traversing the table between the guides, provided with trunnions extending outward between the guides, spring or weight actuated bars resting upon the ends of these trunnions, and belts having one end fixed to the table and the other end passing over the roller and connected with the drum, by which they are drawn forward so as to cause the roller to advance and roll up the material, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE MIDDLEMAS.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. 0. LEE. 

